How long did it take you to become a "good" runner?

Yesterday I was on my long run. I was on a part of my run where I was running faster and had my heart rate higher. I was probably at a point where I could mutter a few words, breathe a bit, and mutter a few more words. At this point I was passed by two girls who were running faster but having a conversation between the two.

This made me wonder how long it takes to become a good runner?

I know this kind of depends on the person. So I'm just wondering how long it took YOU to become a good runner.

Few things worse than being passed by girls. It got really screwed up in '84 when they gathered a bunch of them (girls) in Olympia--the Joanie, Julie, and Julie show--to decide which of them should go to Los Angeles for some sort of race. I don't think running will ever recover. And then in 1996, medical progress being what it is, they decided to let them (the girls) run the 5000 meters... sigh.

"Good" is way too ambiguous. I'll frequently win my age group in small races but I'm not remotely competitive in large races. A person who sets a world record for 70 year old runners would be in last place by a long shot among Olympic competitors. Moreover, I have frequently said that the runners I admire most aren't the fastest runners but the folks who have been doing it for decades. That definition of "good runner" requires about 15 years. And, not to burst any bubbles, but the main criteria for becoming a fast runner relatively quickly was determined the moment sperm met egg. Train smart, race hard, and what will be will be.

Short Term Goal - 17:59 5K

Medium Term Goal - 2:54:59 marathon

Long Term Goal - To have been a runner half my life (I started at age 45)

How would you define a good runner? Capable of winning or placing at local races? AG award winner? By time and if so, what times?

I guess "good" runner would be defined by you.

Then any answer I make would have no meaning for you. I don't consider that I've ever been a good runner, mostly because I've never been at a level where I consistently contended for overall awards, yet my PBs include 4:41 for the mile, 16:22 for 5K, and 35:12 for 10Km.

How would you define a good runner? Capable of winning or placing at local races? AG award winner? By time and if so, what times?

I guess "good" runner would be defined by you.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Only you can decide what is "good." Compared to when I started, I am a very good runner, but if you compared me to many of the folks in the races I enter, I'm just average. Personally, I think "good" will always be that carrot on a stick that is always just beyond reach for most of us.

How would you define a good runner? Capable of winning or placing at local races? AG award winner? By time and if so, what times?

I guess "good" runner would be defined by you.

Then any answer I make would have no meaning for you. I don't consider that I've ever been a good runner, mostly because I've never been at a level where I consistently contended for overall awards, yet my PBs include 4:41 for the mile, 16:22 for 5K, and 35:12 for 10Km.

Taking liberty with the "consistently" part I've never been in greater contention for overall awards then in the last three years. So, by that definition it only took me 30 years to become "good".

How would you define a good runner? Capable of winning or placing at local races? AG award winner? By time and if so, what times?

I guess "good" runner would be defined by you.

Then any answer I make would have no meaning for you. I don't consider that I've ever been a good runner, mostly because I've never been at a level where I consistently contended for overall awards, yet my PBs include 4:41 for the mile, 16:22 for 5K, and 35:12 for 10Km.

Taking liberty with the "consistently" part I've never been in greater contention for overall awards then in the last three years. So, by that definition it only took me 30 years to become "good".

An odd observation is that when I ran those times I wasn't good enough to place in races. Now they would easily win many of the races I run. What era you consider also makes a big difference.

^^ Same here. My personal best times couldn't touch your times but that too was the case - I never came close to an award when I set all of my personal best times [1981-84]. I often finished in the top 10% but never came close to hardware.

I am not a "good" runner in the usual sense, meaning that I am not particularly fast, nor can I run very very long, or lots and lots of monthly miles. But I do consider myself a good runner when I take into account the fact that ever since I started running, I have reached every one of the little goals I have set for myself along the way. In that sense, I think I've been pretty good at creating my own running path and following it successfully.

So to answer the OP's question: I've been a good runner since day one of my running life.

Yea, those girls and their speed. I got my 47 year old man butt handed to me by a 13 year old girl in my last 5K. I was running side by side with her for about half the race. I just couldn't keep up with her at the end. She finished in just over 20 minutes. Did I say she was a 13 year old girl? Just 2 years older than my daughter!? Dang!. She was a good runner.

I think the proper word here is "better". I will never be "good" but in 31/2 months time, I'm able to run farther and faster than my former 20 something self. (I'm in my early 40's now). I call my progress good. So in that sense, It took me 3 1/2 months to become a "good" runner. I am not stopping there, but at this point, I would call any progress I make "good".

As long as I am there - good runner. This weekend I have been a bad runner but, again, I am not too hard on myself for me it's more mental - I am good when I avoid "mental whining". Also, for me the moment "I think I can" came when I ditched that last walk break

Heh. Along the lines Nata suggests, when I decide to drink beer and lay on the couch rather than run, I'm a bad runner. When I decide to get out there despite the fact that it's 95 degrees and humid, I'm a good runner. When I decide to celebrate being a good runner with good beer, I'm a great runner.

Short Term Goal - 17:59 5K

Medium Term Goal - 2:54:59 marathon

Long Term Goal - To have been a runner half my life (I started at age 45)

It took me about 4 months of consistent running 25 miles/week to be able to complete my longer runs "well". "Well" for me just meant having the disciple to establish a pace that I could consistently maintain over my run and not feeling completely wiped out by the end. That, for me, was 10ish miles all miles within 10 seconds or so of 8:40/mile. Again, it wasn't about how fast or slow the pace was, it was just about me being able to pick a good pace that I could maintain consistently without overworking/overexerting myself.

Before that, I felt like I didn't know what I was doing...I'd go out too fast, I'd get tired...I'd feel ill by the end. My fastest and slowest miles were often separated by a minute or more. I'd fade at the end. And, I'd feel like doing nothing but melting into the sofa for the remainder of the day.

Again, not the same definition of "good runner" as anyone else on here, but for me, that's when I started to feel better about my running.

8 months until I thought "Hey, not bad!" That's when I ran my first HM. I realize compared to an Olympic caliber world class runner, I will always suck. Compared to everyone I actually line up with on race day though, I can hold my own pretty good.

“I run mostly to see things, to explore places I don’t know. And the places I do know…, then I get a sense of the weather, the shifting light, the seasonal changes; it can be pleasurable even when you hurl yourself into the teeth of nature.”

It's been 3 years since running has become my main priority, as far as fitness/exercise goes. It probably took me 1.5 to 2 years into it before I was able to call myself "decent." I still won't use the word "good," but I'll give myself the honors of being "decent..."

And this really has nothing to do with times, more so with the evolution of my form, and my ability to run consistently (daily) with no injuries or overuse issues. Took a long time to build up to where I am now.

A good runner is someone who gets out there, no excuses. Knows their fitness level, knows their limitations, runs smart, runs safe, runs for the right reasons, and doesn't need to impress anyone. And a good runner never complains when passed by two good looking young women...

A good runner is someone who gets out there, no excuses. Knows their fitness level, knows their limitations, runs smart, runs safe, runs for the right reasons, and doesn't need to impress anyone. And a good runner never complains when passed by two good looking young women...

OK. What are the "right" reasons? There are a whole bunch of reasons folks get out and run and I'm not sure that any reason is more "right" than any other reason.

Short Term Goal - 17:59 5K

Medium Term Goal - 2:54:59 marathon

Long Term Goal - To have been a runner half my life (I started at age 45)

A good runner is someone who gets out there, no excuses. Knows their fitness level, knows their limitations, runs smart, runs safe, runs for the right reasons, and doesn't need to impress anyone. And a good runner never complains when passed by two good looking young women...

I find any reason I get out the door and get my feet moving is a good one. Even if it just because 1 mile will let you keep you streak.

With that I am not sure I will ever be a good runner but I know the best way to get here is to keep running

A good runner is someone who gets out there,1) no excuses. Knows their 2) fitness level, knows their 3)limitations, 4) runs smart, 5) runs safe, 6) runs for the right reasons, and 7) doesn't need to impress anyone. And a good runner 8) never complains when passed by two good-looking-young women...

It took me about 4 months of consistent running 25 miles/week to be able to complete my longer runs "well". "Well" for me just meant having the disciple to establish a pace that I could consistently maintain over my run and not feeling completely wiped out by the end. That, for me, was 10ish miles all miles within 10 seconds or so of 8:40/mile. Again, it wasn't about how fast or slow the pace was, it was just about me being able to pick a good pace that I could maintain consistently without overworking/overexerting myself.

Before that, I felt like I didn't know what I was doing...I'd go out too fast, I'd get tired...I'd feel ill by the end. My fastest and slowest miles were often separated by a minute or more. I'd fade at the end. And, I'd feel like doing nothing but melting into the sofa for the remainder of the day.

Again, not the same definition of "good runner" as anyone else on here, but for me, that's when I started to feel better about my running.

I think you have intuited what the OP was really asking and provided a useful answer. Good job.

I will always be on a quest to be 'better' and will never value that I have arrived and am 'good' enough. That is just part of my competitive nature. It also keeps me interested and motivated.

This! Yes!

Compared to some, I'm a good runner. Compared to others, I'm a pathetic runner. Compared to myself a few years ago, I'm a better runner, and that's what's most important. (Okay, I also like winning my age group on occasion!)

Compared to myself in the past, I suck. My last PR was in 1996. Compared to others my age, I'm ok, and have a growing collection of age group hardware. Being an aging runner who will never see another PR, I think just keeping on going is pretty good.

By your story... everyone except the fastest people in the world aren't good runners. There are always people who run faster than me on the trails, doesn't mean I don't consider myself a good runner.

I'm a good runner in the sense that I run regularly, commit to my training, take running seriously, want to improve on my distances and times, and I can go for a run without trashing my body.

I'm just not fast... but I'm good.

As I said above, I agree. I considered myself "good" when I could run the run I intended to run with control and discipline (not going to fast, not "trashing my body"). I know my limitations and I know how to push them slightly, but consistently, to improve. Well said!

I'm good at high fiving kids, making celebratory post-race BBQ and enjoying myself. I'm marginally OK at getting faster than I was before. Relative to anyone serious about running, I'm still terrible. I really care about the first sentence, I care a little bit about the second sentence and I don't care a bit about the third.

Compared to myself in the past, I suck. My last PR was in 1996. Compared to others my age, I'm ok, and have a growing collection of age group hardware. Being an aging runner who will never see another PR, I think just keeping on going is pretty good.

That 1996 part hit me. My last absolute PR was 1997, but the completions continue. Last October as I progressed along the course I thought of the miles covered over the years and a time difference of three hours and forty-five minutes between 1986's run and 2013's "run"--both took age group, both were rewarding. Age has moved the goal posts a bit. At the end of the day we could still sit there around the campfire, smile, and say, "Ain't running a grand way to see the Rockies."